It's official! Myst Online: Uru Live is back, and best of all, it's completely free!
I'm thinking of connecting for the first time! I haven't beaten Myst IV and V yet, nor URU, but it's it's...URU LIVE! :D :D :D :D :D

Interesting news, I'll have to try it. Maybe GOG could use the opportunity to get Ubisoft to release the remaining three Myst games here?

Good news. Definitely checking it out soon.

wait, that website you linked has a link to a fileplanet download of the uru installer. does that mean i can get the game for free there? what is the difference between the free installer on fileplanet and the 9.99 version here?

Unfortunately the game servers are completely overloaded, making it impossible to do anything... I had to wait a day before I could even open an account, and the official game downloader app is stalled at 0%.
They are different games. The Uru game available here on GOG is [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uru:_Ages_Beyond_Myst]Uru: Ages Beyond Myst[/url], bundled with two expansion packs. The game discussed in this thread is [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myst_Online:_Uru_Live]Myst Online: Uru Live[/url], an MMO released in 2007. This game was discontinued in 2008, but has been resurrected and released for free just a few days ago.
Thanks for pointing out the FilePlanet link, I hadn't noticed that.

It would be nice if Cyan would create a patch for the GOG version to add the multiplayer component. It would save a lot of bandwidth and send some much needed cash to Cyan Worlds so they can create more worlds for players to explore.

Great news!

Technically speaking, Myst Online: URU Live Again has all of the content of URU: Complete Chronicles, along with a few additional ages that came afterwards.
However, buying CC from here could be treated the same as supporting URU Live, and you get a handy offline version if you ever want to explore the Ages or test your own.
You never know, an (un)official patch for the CC version just might come out. However, CC is under Ubisoft, while MO:ULA is now Cyan only/future open source, so... *shrugs*

Wow, yes it is. I had to check it out. Looks identical to my boxed version. Just as inscrutable too.

ok thanks for clearing the situation up somewhat.
so as far as i understand it:
the two games (the free installer and the version on gog) are essentially the same (maybe one has a few more or less areas than the other), but the primary difference is one can be played solo and the other one can't?
so there is no way to play the online version by yourself? if they shut down the service will we not be able to enter the online game anymore?

Exactly - URU: CC is a standalone, offline game. URU: CC can also be used as a testing ground for fan-created ages.
Myst Online: URU Live Again is completely online and contains all of the elements of URU: CC along with extras - at the moment, Cyan is the only one hosting a shard (server), but later on URU Live will become open source, which means anyone can download the server files and create their own - in theory, the game can't die as long as the community lives.

Oh okay, thanks for clearing that up. I haven't played either game yet but I tested both earlier today. Looks like they patched URU Live to add widescreen resolutions; while URU: CC is 4:3 only. So that's one additional benefit of getting URU Live.
I agree. They take donations at their website as well, so anyone who wants to make an additional contribution in order to support URU Live may do so.

Oh, I didn't know CC couldn't go widescreen. Nifty.
Donators might get something special in URU live as well. No promises though!

IM running URU:CC in 1680x1050 in proper ratio with no stretching of the UI or gameworld. You just need UniWS
anyways UrU is the hardest game i ever played.. i feel like an archeologist running back and forth drawing diagrams and testing theory's...
I am at the damn tree place with the moon room and other rooms... its freaking intense.... moon room raped my mind due to a game bug.... man its fun though, got the mushroom place without to much issue just needed to learn how to count in D'ni LMAO that skill is very valuable in UrU and then the steam vent place that was just fun!
but the tree place is like dipping your hands in boiling oil.... such a drastic shift in difficulty!
edit: im going to hang my hat on URU for awhile to frustrated right now.. going to install Penumbra trilogy and give that a go ^_^ and then Dreamfall after that... loved TLJ cant wait to see what Zoey brings to the mix!

The news have finally reached . Their article includes a link to [url=http://www.massively.com/2010/02/13/an-introduction-to-myst-online-for-newbies/]massively.com's newbie guide.